food chain
noun
1
: an arrangement of the organisms of an ecological community according to the order of predation in which each uses the next usually lower member as a food source
2
: a hierarchy based on power or importance
at the top of the corporate food chain
Examples of food chain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The lab did not specify whether the sick deer was a doe or a buck.
Plague, also known as black plague, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which occurs naturally in the western U.S. and passes through the food chain in various vector species like rodents and fleas.
—
Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2024
The loss of vegetation disrupts the food chain, while soil erosion threatens to trigger dangerous mudslides in the coming rains.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
About 25 years ago, scientists discovered that instead, the explosives remain live and are now oozing into the ecosystem and up the food chain.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
And a leaner Hollywood has reverberated further down the industry food chain.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024
Climate change upsets the food chain The flexibility that humpback whales use in bubble-netting is an example of tool use, Szabo says, which biologists define as when animals use something external to purposefully manipulate their environment.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 6 Sep. 2024
Fast food chains have been fueling the summer with dessert deals, too.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2024
In the ocean food chain, large sharks generally only have to worry about keeping orcas at bay — but a new study suggests the apex predators may have to watch out for their own.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 3 Sep. 2024
The impact is expected to build over time as the metal accumulates in the food chain, especially through fish and game that humans consume.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2024
Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2024
The loss of vegetation disrupts the food chain, while soil erosion threatens to trigger dangerous mudslides in the coming rains.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
About 25 years ago, scientists discovered that instead, the explosives remain live and are now oozing into the ecosystem and up the food chain.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
And a leaner Hollywood has reverberated further down the industry food chain.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024
Climate change upsets the food chain The flexibility that humpback whales use in bubble-netting is an example of tool use, Szabo says, which biologists define as when animals use something external to purposefully manipulate their environment.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 6 Sep. 2024
Fast food chains have been fueling the summer with dessert deals, too.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2024
In the ocean food chain, large sharks generally only have to worry about keeping orcas at bay — but a new study suggests the apex predators may have to watch out for their own.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 3 Sep. 2024
The impact is expected to build over time as the metal accumulates in the food chain, especially through fish and game that humans consume.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food chain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near food chain
Cite this Entry
“Food chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20chain. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
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